Car-coupling



I (No Model.) c 4 Sheets-Sheet 1.

H. C. BUHOUP.

GAR GOUPLING.

N0. 573,961. Patented Deo. Z9, 18,96.

(No Model.)

4 4 Sheets--Sheet 2. H. C. BUHOUP.`

GAR GOUPLING No. 573,961. Patented Deo. 29

WITNESSES (No Model.) 4 ySheets-Sheet '-3.

H. C. BUHOU-P. GAR ooUPLING.

No. 573,961. Patented 1390.29, 189,61.

' lnv/ (N91Moae1.) 4 sheetssheet 4.

11. C. B11119111. l

GAR GOUPLING. Y

No. 573,961 Patented 1190.99, 1899.

ms PETER: co. pHoro-1.11110.. wAsmNc'mu. u. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HARRY C. BUHOUP, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR rTO VILLIAM MOCON- WAY, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

cAR-Co`uPL|NG.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 573,961, dated December 29, 1896. Application led September 23, 1896. Serial No. 606,721. (No model.)

To a/ZZ whom t may concern: to that which engages the tailpiece of the Be it known that I, HARRY C. BUHOUP, a knuckle, same as in Fig. 4, the dot-ted lines citizen of the United States, residing at Chiindicating the spring-pocket within the block cago, in the county of Cook, State of Illinois, and the opening on the opposite side of the 55 5 have invented certain new and useful I1nblock in the stem leading thereto. Fig. 8 is provements in Car-Couplings; and I hereby a detached view of the locking-block and its declare the following to be a full, clear, and stem in elevation at right angles to the view exact description of the same, reference beshown in Fig. 7. Fig. 9 is a top or plan view ing had to the accompanying drawings, in of the locking-block and its stem. Figs.. 10 6o io which-- l and Il are front and side elevations ofthe Figure l is a plan view of a coupler-head, combined kicker and spring resistance-arm. the position of the operative parts (tailpiece Fig. l2 is a detached view in elevation of the of the knuckle, the locking-block, dac.) being spring for theV locking-block. Fig. 1311s a indicated by dotted lines. Fig. 2 is a transfront view in elevation of the knuckle and 65 r 5 verse vertical section on the line ir Fig. l, its tailpiece, showing the angle or front inlooking in the direction of the arrow, showing oline on the tailpiece, the rear angle or inthe end of the tailpiece in transverse section, oline being indicated in dotted lines. Fig. let the inclined locking-block in transverse secisa plan view of the knuckle and its tailpiece, tion, the spring for actuating the lockingshowing both the front and rear inclines or 7o zo block in elevation, and the kicker for actubevels on the end of the tailpiece. Fig. l5 is ating the tailpiece of the knuckle in side an end view of the tailpiece and knuckle, elevation, the parts being in the position they also showing the front and rear inclines of occupy when the co'uplin gis locked or coupled the tailpiece.

up. In this figure the bearing or resistance- Like symbols refer to like parts wherever 75 2 5 arm of the spring is shown as formed on the they occur.

kicker for reasons which will hereinafter ap- My invention relates to certain improvepear. Fig. 3 is a similar section on the line ments in cancouplings of the Master Car- .'r, Fig. l, the tailpiece removed to more Builders(lVI.C.B.)type,andis directed more clearly show the inclines or ways in the head especially t0 such a construction of locking- 8o 3o for the lockingblock, the kicker being block and combination thereof with the tailomitted and the upper spring bearing or repiece of the knuckle as shall obviate all tendsistance being shown as a pivoted arni or ency of the locking-block working upward lever capable of a limited movement. This or backward, thus preventing the opening of resistance-arm or bearing may be a fixed arm the couplers while the car is in transit, and 85 3 5 or linger, if desired,as will hereinafter appear.` which will also so reduce the wear on the tail- Fig. 4 is a vertical longitudinal section of the piece of the knuckle and locking-block as toA coupler-head on the line y fy, Fig. l, looking obviate any play of the tailpiece which will in the direction of the arrow and showing a allow the knuckles to pull past each other portion of the tailpiece of the knuckle and while the locking-block is in engagement with 9o 4o the lower end of the locking-block in elevathe tailpece.

tion. Fig. 5 is a vertical transverse section Heret-ofore in vertical plane couplers or of the head similar to Fig. 2, showing the same those of the J anney type having the revolvparts, the inclined locking-block, however, ingknnckle and locking-pin or locking-block being raised andset for uncoupling. Fig. 6 considerable trouble and much danger has 95 45 is the same view, the parts being in the act of arisen from the locking-pin or lockingblock uncoupling or unlocking, the kicker having working up or Ibackward and releasing the actedon the tailpiece to throw it out and the knuckle while the car is in transit, allowing locking-block being in the act of following the couplers to open, causing serious damage down into its first position. Fig. 7 is a deandfrequentlygreatloss of life. To overcome roo 5o 'cached view in elevation of the locking-block said difficulty, I combine with the knuckle and its stem, showing the side opposite and its tailpiece a locking-block so arranged that it will move at an angle transversely with the tailpiece of the knuckle, whereby the bearing of the tailpiece of the' knuckle holds the locking-block with a wed ging action which counteracts any rise or recession of the locking-block, and a construction involving said principle of operation embodies the main feature of my invention.

As a preferred form of the devices I employ in combination a knuckle, the tailpiece thereof having on its front an incline or bevel, and a spring-actuated locking-pin or lockingblock arranged at an angle transversely of the coupler and inclined to the path of the coupler, whereby the tailpiece of the knuckle becomes a wedge to assist the spring in holding down the locking-block, and such a'construction embodies a secondary feature of my invention.

There are other minor features of invention, such as the combination, with the locking-block and the spring for actuating the same, of a movable bearing or resistance-arm for the spring,wherebythe compression of the spring is reduced and tendency of the spring to set is obviated, the combination, with the lockingblock, its spring and movable bearing or resistance-arm, of a kicker for actuating the knuckle by the withdrawal of the locking-block, as well as other novel features of construction and combination, all as will hereinafter more fully appear.

I will now proceed to describe my invention more fully, so that others skilled in the art to which it appertains may apply the same.

In the drawings, A indicates a co upler-hcad of the Janney type, having the usual guardarm a and ears d for the kn uckle; B,a knuckle pivoted on the head and provided with a-tailpiece b, the general construction of which parts and mode of their combining may follow any of the several well-known forms of vertical coupler. I

In carrying out my invention I form the tailpiece b at that part which engages the locking-block with two longitudinal inclines, a front incline l, which engages the locking block (or pin) when the coupler is locked, and a rear incline 2, which engages the locking block (or pin) and causes it to rise or recede before the tailpiece when the tailpiece moves in, as in making a coupling.

C indicates the locking-block, (or pin,) which coacts with the tailpiece of the knuckle in making a coupling. This locking-block is preferably block-shaped at the bottom, as at 23, (see Figs. 7, S,- and 9,) having a bevel iat its front end, where it is engaged by the incline 2 of the tailpiece Z) in coupling up, and provided with lateral inclined shoulders 3 3b, which shoulders, when the locking-block is in position, (that is to say, inclined transversely of the coupler,) stand in a horizontal plane. The locking-block is also provided centrally of its front face with a wedge-shaped lug` or projection 3 to force the block into the path of the tailpiece of the knuckle when the locking-block is raised, on its rear face with a shoulder 3s to engage a projection or shoulder in the coupler-head and hold the locking-block in the raised position, and with a hollow stem 3, whereby the block 3 may be raised to set the lock for uncoupling.

)Vithin the hollow stem 3d of the lockingblock 3 is a coiled or equivalent spring 5, which is introduced through a suitable open- Ving in the rear face of stem 3, said spring having a bearing at one end on the lockingblock and at the other on a resistance-arm. The resistance-arm may be a simple projection on the interior of the coupler-head, which projects into the slot in the rear face of steln 3, or it may bea pivoted lever with restricted movement, as shown at 6, Fig. 3, or, where a kicker is used for projecting the tailpiece when the lock is set for uncoupling, it may be formed at right angles to and integral with the kicker G, as illustrated in Figs. 2, 5, and

G of the drawings. The latter construction is preferred because the compression of the spring is thereby reduced very materially by the kicker (or knuckle-opener) (5 yielding when the knuckle is moved outward, thus again relieving the tension of the spring, (see Fig. 6,) which returns to very nearly its normal position, so that if the locking-block was pulled back and left in the raised position when the coupler was not in action there would be little danger of the spring becoming set and useless, as might occur if left under full compression, as illustrated in Fig. 5 or as would be the case with the construction shown in Fig. 3, where the substantially iiXed or limited resistance-arm 6 is shown.

A locking-block C, not necessarily but preferably of the construction hereinbefore pointed out, is arranged in transversely-inclin ed guide recesses or ways within the coupler-head A, (see Figs. 2, 3, 5, and 6,) so that it will move at an angle transversely across or in front of the tailpiece b of the knuckle, with its rear face contacting with the front incline l of said tailpiece b, and if the construction of locking-block hereinbefore set forth is selected said Ways are provided with an inclined projection or cam-abutment 7, with which the projection 3C of the lockingblock will engage when the block 3 is raised to force the locking-block over into the path of the tailpiece of the knuckle and opposite thereto with a ledge or projection 8 to receive the shoulder 3S on the rear face of the locking-block 3, to retain the block above and in the path of the tailpiece when the lockingblock is set for coupling up.

The devices being of the general character and combined substantially as hereinbefore set forth will operate as follows: The parts being in the locked position, as illustrated in the sectional view, Fig. 2, the tailpiece b will act as a wed ge to draw down rather than raise the locking-block O, whether the same be spring-pressed or a gravity-block, and in either case the block being backed through- Ilf out by that wall of the coupler (marked K) which extends down the full length of the locking-block on top, the tailpiece of the knuckle would have to crush the locking-block before it could force back or pass the block. To release the tailpiece, as in the act of uncoupling, the inclined locking-block is raised by means of its stem 3d or in other suitable way, and if the block is spring-pressed said spring 5 within the stem will be compressed between the block 3 and the resistance-arm 6a. If the resistance-arm 6a has combined therewith the kicker 6, as soon as the locking-block 3 rises above the tailpiece ZJ` the kicker 6 will act upon the tailpiece to force open the knuckle, and the spring 5 will be immediately relieved by its expansion, which operates the kicker through the medium of the resistance-arm. As the locking-block 3 is raised (or withdrawn) the inclined projection 3c upon its front face encounters the abutment 7, and the locking-block 3 as it rises above the tailpiece b is forced into the path thereof and being released immediately follows the tailpiece (see Fig. 6) back into its rst position, so that the spring returns to its normal position, and the parts are in position for coupling up when the tailpiece of the knuckle again moves inward and its incline 2 engages the beveled end 4i of the locking-block. If, however, it is desired to only set the parts for uncoupling, the

locking-block will be raised until the projection 3c, moving over the abutment 7, forces the block over, so that its shoulder 3S engages the ledge 8, whereupon (see Fig. 5) the locking-block is retained in the elevated position in the path of the tailpiece b of the knuckle and with the incline 1 of the tailpiece in contact with the point of the locking-block until such time as the outward movement of the tailpiece, in separating the cars, shall lift the locking-block 3, force shoulder 3s o of ledge S, and permit the locking-block to follow into its first position, (see Fig. 6,) as hereinbefore pointed out.

Having thus described my invent-ion, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. In a car-coupler of the Master Car-Build ers type, the combination with a knuckle and its tailpiece, of a locking-block arranged laterally of the coupler-head and at an inclination to the path of the tailpieceof the knuckle; substantially as and for the purposes specified.

2. In a car-coupler of the Master Car-Builders type, the combination with the knuckle and its tailpiece, of a locking-block arranged to move at an angle to the tailpiece of the knuckle and laterally ofthe coupler-head; substantially as and for the purposes speci- 3. In a car-coupler, the combination of a knuckle provided with a tailpiece, and a transversely-inclined spring-pressed lockingblock; substantially as and for the purposes specified.

4. In a car-coupler, the combination with a knuckle provided with a tailpiece having an incline on its front face, of a locking-block arranged at a corresponding incline and transversely of the coupler-head; substantially as and for the purposes specified.

5. In a car-coupler, the combination with a knuckle havingatailpiece, of a locking-block having a spring-pocket, a spring arranged in the pocket of the locking-block, and aresistance-arm secured to the coupler-head and which projects into the spring-pocket of the locking-block; substantially as and for the purposes specied.

G. In a car-coupler, the combination of a knuckle provided with a tailpiece, a lockingblock, a spring for actuating the same, and a combined spring resistance-arm and kicker; substantially as and for the purposes specified.

7. In a car-coupler, the combination with a knuckle and its tailpiece, of a spring-actuated locking-block arranged at an angle transversely of the coupler-head, and a combined resistance-arm and kicker; substantially as and for the purposes specified. Y

S. In a car-coupler, the combination with a coupler-head having an inclined transverselyarranged way for the locking-block said Way provided with a cam-abutment, of a lockingblock provided with a projection to engage the cam-abutment on the retraction of the block, and a knuckle having a'tailpiece which engages the locking-block; substantially as and for the purposes specified.

9. In a car-coupler, the combination with a coupler-head having transverse inclined ways for a locking-block, a cam-abutment on one side and a ledge on the opposite side of said ways, of a locking-block having a projection on one face which engages the cam-abutment when the block is retracted and a shoulder which engages the ledge of the coupler-head, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

l0. The combination with a coupler-head and a knuckle having a tailpiece, of a locking-block arranged to move at an angle transversely of the coupler-head, the tailpiece of the knuckle being provided With a face corresponding to the plane of movement of the locking-block whereby the locking-block is wedged between the tailpiece and couplerhead; substantially as and for the purposes specified.

In testimony whereof I ax my signature, in presence of two witnesses, this 22d day of September, 1896.

HARRY C. BUHOUP.

Witnesses:

WM. E. DYRE, F. W. Rrrrnn, J r.

IOO

IIO 

